OBJECTIVETo explore several numerical methods of ordinal variable in one-way ordinal contingency table and their interrelationship, and to compare corresponding statistical analysis methods such as Ridit analysis and rank sum test.

METHODSFormula deduction was based on five simplified grading approaches including rank_r(i), ridit_r(i), ridit_r(ci), ridit_r(mi), and table scores. Practical data set was verified by SAS8.2 in clinical practice (to test the effect of Shiwei solution in treatment for chronic tracheitis).

RESULTSBecause of the linear relationship of rank_r(i) = N ridit_r(i) + 1/2 = N ridit_r(ci) = (N + 1) ridit_r(mi), the exact chi2 values in Ridit analysis based on ridit_r(i), ridit_r(ci), and ridit_r(mi), were completely the same, and they were equivalent to the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Traditional Ridit analysis was based on ridit_r(i), and its corresponding chi2 value calculated with an approximate variance (1/12) was conservative. The exact chi2 test of Ridit analysis should be used when comparing multiple groups in the clinical researches because of its special merits such as distribution of mean ridit value on (0,1) and clear graph expression. The exact chi2 test of Ridit analysis can be output directly by proc freq of SAS8.2 with ridit and modridit option (SCORES =).

CONCLUSIONThe exact chi2 test of Ridit analysis is equivalent to the Kruskal-Wallis H test, and should be used when comparing multiple groups in the clinical researches.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate scientific papers published by Korean radiologists in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) radiology journals, between 1986 and 2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Institute for Scientific Information Web of Knowledge-Web of Science (SCIE) database was searched for all articles published by Korean radiologists, in SCIE radiology journals, between 1986 and 2010. We performed the analysis by typing "Korea" and "radiol" in the address section and selecting the subject area of "Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Medical Imaging" with the use of the general search function of the software. Analyzed parameters included the total number of publications, document types, journals, and institutions. In addition, we analyzed where Korea ranks, compared to other countries, in terms of the number of published articles. All these data were analyzed according to five time periods: 1986-1990, 1991-1995, 1996-2000, 2001-2005, and 2006-2010. RESULTS: Overall, 4974 papers were published by Korean radiologists, in 99 different SCIE journals, between 1986 and 2010, of which 4237 (85.2%) were article-type papers. Of the total 115395 articles, worldwide, published in radiology journals, Korea's share was 3.7%, with an upward trend over time (p < 0.005). The journal with the highest number of articles was the American Journal of Roentgenology (n = 565, 13.3%). The institution which produced the highest number of publications was Seoul National University (n = 932, 22.0%). CONCLUSION: The number of scientific articles published by Korean radiologists in the SCIE radiology journals has increased significantly between 1986 and 2010. Korea was ranked 4th among countries contributing to radiology research during the last 5 years.
*Bibliometrics ; Biomedical Research/*statistics & numerical data ; Periodicals as Topic/*statistics & numerical data ; *Radiology ; Republic of Korea

PURPOSE: This study was done to describe the research trend of Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM) in Korea and internationally. METHOD: A Systematic review of CAM related literature published from 2000 to 2005 was done. A comprehensive search by using 34 CAM modalities as search terms to identify all articles dealing with CAM was undertaken from 4 databases: PubMed, RICHIS, KoreaMed, and Riss4U. A Total of 588 abstracts and 223 original articles were reviewed by two independent reviewers using systematic analysis guidelines. Data regarding the types of study design, characteristics of subjects and researchers, and classification of CAM modalities was recorded. The outcome measures of CAM were identified. RESULTS: CAM research has been rapidly increasing worldwide in the last decade. In Korea, nursing(53.5%) followed by medicine(42.7%) occupied the majority of CAM research in comparison to medicine(42.9%) and disciplines in CAM(25.0%), like homeopathy, internationally. Prevailing research designs in Korea were experimental and quasi-experimental, however, randomized clinical trials were found. Internationally, survey research was dominant, with the exception of randomized clinical trials that were mostly an experimental design. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that a robust research design in CAM research is needed to accumulate strong scientific evidence and to adopt nursing interventions from CAM modalities.
Biomedical Research/statistics & numerical data/*trends ; Complementary Therapies/statistics & numerical data/*trends ; Humans ; MEDLINE ; Models, Nursing ; PubMed ; Research Design

The subcommittee on the Assessment of Korean Gastroenterology Research Achievements of the Korean Society of Gastroenterology (KSG) conducted a survey of SCI papers in the fields of gastroenterology to evaluate the current status of Korean gastroenterology research. A total of 4,260 papers were confirmed as gastroenterology papers published by researchers affiliated with Korean medical institutions during the 1974-2006 periods. Among those 4,260 papers, 2,373 papers were authored by the members of the KSG. The first Korean gastroenterology SCI paper was published in 1981 and the Korean SCI gastroenterology publication output dramatically increased since 1995. Sixty three institutions published SCI papers and 14 institutions published more than 100 SCI papers. Sixteen members of KSG published more than 20 SCI papers as reprint authors. Ninety percent of Korean gastroenterology papers was cited at least once. KSG member reprint author papers were cited an average of 4.1 times within 3 years after publication. Korean gastroenterology research achievements over the last 30 years show a remarkable growth in terms of quantity and quality. The KSG members have played central roles in these progresses, and it is anticipated that they will continue to do so in the future.
Academies and Institutes ; Achievement ; Authorship ; *Bibliometrics ; Biomedical Research/*statistics & numerical data ; Gastroenterology/*statistics & numerical data ; Korea ; Periodicals as Topic/*statistics & numerical data

This study examined ways of promoting research in the medical sciences by evaluating trends in research funding, and the present status of research funding by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF). This study analyzed statistics from KOSEF from 1978 to 2003 to examine support for research. In medical science field, group-based programs receive more funding than do individual-based programs. The proportion of research funds allocated to the medical sciences has increased markedly each year. Researchers in the medical sciences have submitted more articles to Science Citation Index (SCI) journals than to non-SCI journals, relative to other fields. Researchers supported by the Mission-Oriented Basic Grants program have published the majority of these papers, followed by those supported by the Programs for Leading Scientists, Regional Scientists, Leading Women Scientists, Young Scientists, and Promising Women Scientists, in that order. Funding by KOSEF reflects many decades of government support for research and development, the development and maintenance of necessary infrastructure, and the education and training of medical scientists.
Biomedical Research/*economics ; Foundations/*economics/statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Korea ; Research Support/*economics/trends ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Science

Acute Kidney Injury ; epidemiology ; Biomedical Research ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans

At present, Chinese medical field faces with an important problem of how to correctly handle the relationship between medical and scientific research. Academician Li Lianda advocates doctors doing scientific research under the premise of putting the medical work first. He points out that there are many problems in the process of doctors doing scientific research at present such as paying more attention to scientific research than medical care, excessively promoting building scientific research hospital, only paying attention to training scientific talents, research direction be flashy without substance, the medical evaluation system should be improved and so on. Medical, scientific research and teaching are inseparable because improving medical standards depends on scientific research and personnel training. But not all doctors need to take into account of medical treatment, scientific research and teaching in the same degree while not all hospitals need to turn into three-in-one hospital, scientific research hospital or teaching hospital. It must be treated differently according to the actual situation.
Altitude ; Biomedical Research ; education ; manpower ; trends ; Humans ; Physicians ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data

No abstract available.
Data Accuracy ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Statistics as Topic ; Biomedical Research ; Analysis of Variance

This paper explains the status of science and technology of traditional Chinese medicine in China. Basic conclusions are as follows: policy environment is improved step by step, R&D funds and R&D personnel in traditional Chinese medicine field are increased continuously, and a lot of achievements have been got in traditional Chinese medicine field.
Academies and Institutes ; economics ; statistics & numerical data ; Biomedical Research ; economics ; manpower ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Autopsy has played a unique role in the progression of clinical medicine, medical education, epidemiology, and public health. However, the autopsy rate has been decreasing during the past several decades worldwide, and its necessity is frequently argued. Autopsy-based research in China, a country with the world's largest population, is very important for studying the spectrum and epidemiology of diseases as well as for discovering new diseases. This article summarizes the brief history of autopsy in China and analyzes the cause of its decline in recent decades by reviewing previously published papers, review articles, self-collected materials, and private correspondence. Since the first officially permitted autopsy in 1913, China witnessed the highest autopsy rate between 1950 and 1970, and since then the autopsy rate began to decline as it in other parts of the world. The main reasons for the reduction in autopsy rates in China include negligence by hospital administrators and relevant government authorities, unmotivated clinicians, helpless pathologists, unenforceable regulations and laws, and local cultures and customs.
Autopsy ; history ; statistics & numerical data ; Biomedical Research ; history ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Medieval ; Humans